Lesson in lifesaving skills for Leinster parents

A group of parents and carers in the northern Goldfields town of Leinster have learnt the valuable lifesaving skills of CPR and how to provide first aid for various childhood injuries. The group attended a Heart Beat Club course held in January, which was led by Royal Life Saving WA Community Trainer Maureen Lasisz. The Heart Beat Club is a community education initiative that aims to increase skills and confidence in CPR and first aid for those who care for young children.

A recent study by Royal Life Saving WA and Curtin University showed a concerning lack of CPR training among WA parents. The study revealed that less than a quarter of parents had completed CPR training in the past 12 months, leaving them potentially at risk should they need to respond to a drowning incident or other emergency.

The recent Heart Beat Club session covered first aid for common child injuries such as burns and scalds, choking and drowning, as well as information on performing CPR on infants and children. Maureen said the participants were very engaged with the course and asked her plenty of questions, particularly about resuscitation.

For residents in regional towns such as Leinster, access to vital first aid training is often only made possible by specially funded training programs and trainers willing to travel to these areas. The Leinster course was supported by Principal Community Partner BHP and delivered with the assistance of veteran trainer Maureen.

Maureen has been a trainer with Royal Life Saving WA since 1999 in multiple capacities. Her first role was as an examiner for the Bronze Medallion course, before she also became a swimming instructor and obtained her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to be a First Aid trainer as well.

“Maureen has been delivering Bronze Medallion, Resuscitation, VacSwim, Heart Beat Club and First Aid courses across WA,” says Royal Life Saving WA Community Education Coordinator Francesca Amoroso. “Thanks to her passion and enthusiasm for what she does, she is always open to travel across the state and deliver water safety programs to remote communities. She has been an excellent advocate of the Royal Life Saving WA message and we thank her for her 20-plus years of service.”

Royal Life Saving WA encourages all parents and carers of young children to learn vital first aid and CPR skills. You can learn more about the Heart Beat Club initiative here, or enrol in a CPR course near you at the link below.